Cariwest
{{Short description|Annual arts festival in Alberta, Canada}}
Cariwest is an annual non-profit three-day Caribbean Arts Festival that takes place annually in the second weekend of August in the heart of downtown Edmonton, Alberta.[http://www.thewandereronline.com/2013/05/07/what-makes-a-legendary-summer-in-edmonton-by-gina-wicentowich/ What Makes a Legendary Summer in Edmonton | By Gina Wicentowich – The Wanderer] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222012640/http://www.thewandereronline.com/2013/05/07/what-makes-a-legendary-summer-in-edmonton-by-gina-wicentowich/ |date=December 22, 2013 }} Cariwest and its surrounding events attract more than 60,000 people each year. The festival gives the attendees a chance to enjoy Caribbean culture.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120414175601/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/caribbean-people The Canadian Encyclopedia][http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/5-things-to-do-in-edmonton-this-weekend-1.1306262 5 things to do in Edmonton this weekend - Edmonton - CBC News]
History
Cariwest began in 1984 as part of the Klondike Days Parade (now K-Days) as a way for Caribbean immigrants in Edmonton to celebrate and share their culture.[http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/08/11/cariwest-a-bouncin-success Cariwest a bouncin' success | News | Edmonton Sun] It was organized by The Western Carnival Development Association (W.C.D.A.), a non-profit organization under the Societies Act, and this group has been organizing Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival since then.{{cite book|author=Dawn P. Williams|title=Who's who in Black Canada 2: Black Success and Black Excellence in Canada : a Contemporary Directory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_UtdQ6NsvYkC&pg=PA37|year=2006|publisher=Who's Who in Black Canada|isbn=978-0-9731384-2-9|pages=37–}}
Activities
Cariwest employs the talents of musicians and dancers from all over the world to bring the melodies of Soca, Steel Pan, Reggae, Hip Hop, Calypso and Brass Bands to Edmontonians.{{cite book|author=David Divine|title=Multiple Lenses: Voices from the Diaspora Located in Canada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HHQiAQAAMAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-84718-110-7}} There is also drama and street theatre. Cariwest provides an opportunity for those who are unfamiliar with Caribbean culture to experience the traditions.[http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/2013/08/01/caribbean-arts-festival-cariwest-returns-to-edmonton-aug-9-to-11 CariWest heats up Churchill | Edmonton Examiner] The festival is free and open to all who chose to attend; there is an entrance fee to some special events.
The "mas" in "mas band" is short for masquerade. Carnival mas bands originated in Trinidad and Tobago and are equivalent to the North American parade "floats". Every year, Cariwest hosts a parade in downtown Edmonton where the streets are filled with people in colourful costumes[http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/colour-costumes-splash-downtown-edmonton-for-cariwest-festival-1.910856 Colour, costumes splash downtown Edmonton for Cariwest festival | CTV Edmonton News] dancing to the beat of Caribbean music.[https://edmontonjournal.com/Thousands+flock+downtown+Edmonton+colourful+Caribbean+style+street+party/8774312/story.html "Thousands flock downtown Edmonton colourful Caribbean style street party"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814113413/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Thousands%2Bflock%2Bdowntown%2BEdmonton%2Bcolourful%2BCaribbean%2Bstyle%2Bstreet%2Bparty/8774312/story.html |date=August 14, 2013 }}. Edmonton Journal.[https://archive.today/20140901015809/http://www.demotix.com/news/2400179/cariwest-parade-through-downtown-edmonton%23media-2399821 Cariwest Parade through Downtown Edmonton | Demotix.com]
After the parade, Edmonton's Sir Winston Churchill Square is transformed into a Caribbean Village.
In the village there is Caribbean food,[https://archive.today/20140901015824/http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/50318/city-gets-taste-of-caribbean-flavour/ City gets taste of Caribbean flavour | Metro] goods, beer gardens, and live music on the Cariwest stage.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [Official website link temporarily removed \ currently inaccessible on mobile devices]
Category:Culture of the Caribbean